Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-30
THE RAIN.
Damage Created in a Few
Hours.
A VERY HEAVY D0WNP0UR.
The Condition of the Streets,
Street Railways and the
Low Lands.

Yesterdays rain storm was one oil
the heaviest ever experienced IN Los
Angeles. 1t commenced raining
lightly about midnight Wednesday
night, and before morning the water
came down in torrents, creating con-
siderable damage to property every
where, although not so much as it
was imagined had resulted at first.
Shortly after noon yesterday the
downfall ceased, and from that time
until about 3 O'Clock there was only q
cloudy sky, denoting that more rain
was to follow, and it did, for 1t came
down "thick and heavy" between
S and 7 O'Clock, and the
streets, as usual, were almost
impassable. Especially was this the
case in the lower part OF the city be-
low Main street. In that district the
streets were more like small rivers
than thoroughfares, and such was
their condition that there were very
few people who attempted to cross
them. On the higher ground the re-
suit of the rain was seen everywhere.
Streets in which sewers or pipes had
recently been laid were almost impas-
sable and in some cases dangerous.
This was the case ON First
street between Main and Fort, where
excavation and refilling has been
going on recently. The rain has
demonstrated how poorly the excava-
tions were refilled, for the crossing of
Spring and First on filled ground was
dangerous. The rain made the soil
so soft in the bitches recently filled
on Main street between Seventh and
Eighth that it let one Of the Milwau-
kee furniture wagons down to the
axle. The team was unable to haul
it out, consequently it was left, OBJ
structing the downward cars. The
sewer pipe at the junction OF Main
and Ninth streets gave away yester-
day, and at one time matters looked
rather dubious for Mr.. Lowell, who
owns a grocery store on the corner.
The water commenced to wash out his
cellar wall. He at once telephoned
Street Superintendent Pike, and he.
with the aid OF some OF the fire men,
soon constructed levee and turned
the water in another direction. One
load OF hay and several horses were
mired in the ditch.
Wall street, between Fifth and
Seventh, was perfect river, and as
the street has been but recently
graded below the car tracks, which
project about foot above the road
way, the depth of water was guaged
at eleven inches. Below this street
toward the river, the district pre-
sented the appearance Of being
flooded, and it was reported that the
river had overflowed its banks below
the levee. This was not the fact, but the
country had that appearance for the
reason that the water came down so
fast and flowed from the high ground
to the low on it's way to the river that
all the depressions were filed. Re-
ports were received from the river at
this office several times during last
evening, but it was not reported to be
high, or in any danger of overhowing
the levee or breaking through on
either the east or west side. The
street cars crossed and recrossed as
usual and the drivers saw nothing to
cause them the least alarm. The
street cars, however, Jared badly. Early
in the day the trips of the Sixth
street line we're delayed, and the cars
stood ON the switches for
half an hour at time. The other
lines OF street cars Jared better, but
the Main street line found consider
able water in it's way. The First
street line near the river met with
plenty OF water, but no serious obsta-
,le. The Temple street cable line
ran with difficulty, but it did not
have to stop altogether. The Second
street cable road was damaged so
much that the cars were stopped.
About 2:30 o'clock one of the cars
was coming down the hill west OF Fort
street when the depression block
broke and the car stopped instantly.
Two OF the passengers who sat next
10 the end windows could not retain
their equilibrium and they went par
,ially through the windows, breaking
;he glass, Fortunately no one was
1urt.
Second street Jared very badly,
,he water, as itrushed down the hill
wearing holes in the side of the
until it was in dangerous
for vehicles. At the cross
ng of Olive street and between that |
joint and Hill street, the water has |
washed out several dangerous minia-
;ure ravines and after night fall people |
n carriages will do well totravel over
,ome other street until Second street |
las been repaired. Over the hills
reservoir, caused by the filling in of
me side of the depression between
Beaudry and Temple streets was the
receptacle OF an immense amount Of
water and it was feared that the en-
oankment might give way and cause
he water to wash away some of the
houses further down the ravine.
There was fully fifteen feet
If water in this hole
Street crossings down town were, as
Usual, in a very disagreeable condi-
ion last night. At the corner of
First and Spring streets foot passen-
,ers were detained for some time,
he water being about six inches
leep on the walk. On the corner of
Main and First streets the crossing
vas almost as bad. At the crossing
4 Spring street with the foot OF
temple the water rushed down with
velocity and made the
rossing of the street quite wet and
muddy.
Many Easements and cellars were
looded, among others that of Bluett
{ Sullivan, clothiers, corner of First
nd Spring and the Horseshoe Cloth
ng Store on Main street.
The Sixth and Pearl-street cars
vcre compelled to stop at Hoff street,
East Los Angeles on account OF the
leluged condition of the street.
The rain continued at intervals dur
ng the night and the Signal Service
r